That night I feel asleep happily in Racetrack's arms without a care in the
world. Sure, all of the boys had heard our embarrassing romantic
confessions, and I had no doubt that the girls would hear the moment that
the two groups met, but that didn't really bother me. Of course, I was
pregnant, and my brother had disowned me, but for those few tranquil
minutes I was truly happy. I forgot it all and only remembered that I was
in the arms of the man I loved, and that he loved me back. For that moment,
anything was possible.
The next morning, I woke in the same position I had been sleeping in before, and carefully slid from the grasp of the still sleeping Racetrack. Lightly I kissed his forehead before walking around. I scanned the room and noticed a huddle of guys speaking in hushed voices, worry still evident in their faces. "Is there a problem?" I asked, concerned.
"No, no," Jack said. I could tell he was lying though.
"Don't bother lying, Jack, I'll find out sooner or later. Just tell me what the problem is." After the previous night I had abandoned all usage of my feigned New York accent and was back to being the Alexandra Conlon the boys had first met.
"Ya haven' changed a bit," he reported happily, having not seen me before the previous night in nearly a month. He'd been far too busy running a borough during a war to visit. He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into a huddle. "Lemme break it down for ya," he started. As he spoke it became evident that Chant and his army had become more than anyone had ever expected them to become. Along with the help of some of the other boroughs he had raised a well-trained army that planned to defeat us. The boys had been discussing strategies to no avail, and now all heads turned towards me.
"I don't know much about gang wars and strategies, but if I know anything its that a group cannot operate without a successful leader. A book can't commence without it's protagonist and a play can't be performed without a director just like a gang can't fight without their leader." I thought this an intelligible answer, as well as one that might actually work.
The boys stared at me for a moment before one dared to speak. It was the blonde one they called Dutchy. "What's a protagnist?"
"Protagonist. It's a main character in a book," Specs answered for me. He was one of the few learned newsies as he had gone to school for nearly eight years before running away and joining leagues with his current crowd.
The rest of the newsies slowly began to move again, further proving my suspicion that none of them besides Specs knew the meaning of the word. Jack started talking again. "I t'ink ya got somethin' dere, Spark. I'd put ya on da council for da meetin's wit' Spot, but, well, ya know.."
"Yeah, I know. If you want though, I'll keep advising you, but just don't tell Spot I did. That way you get advice and Spot doesn't have to know that the ideas are coming from his exiled sister. I don't think he'll like me any more after I go confront him today."
I had been hoping that the last part would slip by unnoticed, but no such luck. Jack looked at me amazedly. "You'se gonna go talk ta Spot? What ya gonna tell 'im? Ya realize dat you'se ain't allowed back dere?"
"You truly think that Spot would hurt his own sister? Honestly, is he that heartless?" Jack wasn't even able to answer the question, he simply nodded. "Then lets hope he isn't heartless enough to kill an unborn baby," were my last words before I deserted the group.
"Spark? Where are ya goin'?" Racetrack said sleepily as I grabbed my hat from the bunk he was still lying on.
"I'm going to talk to Spot, and prove to him that he doesn't have anything over me." Softer, I muttered, "And to prove it to myself."
Racetrack instantly stood up and grabbed his vest, buttoning it quickly. "What're ya gonna do ta him? Soak 'im?" he asked incredulously.
"If need be," was all I said before I turned to walk out the door.
I heard footsteps following quickly behind me as Racetrack said, "Wait, I'se comin' wit' ya."
I slowly walked down the lane, not talking to Racetrack even though he was supposed to be their for support. Feeling isolated I nearly turned around at least ten times, but as I looked down at my slightly rounded belly (I was only two months in, but I had been very slender before from lack of nourishment so the baby began to show immediately.) I felt the strength I needed to carry on. I hummed a little tune slowly and began to sing, as off pitch as I assume I was. "You tell me to go away/You don't want me hear anymore/But I know inside you're like me/You can't survive without me/I've waited my whole life for us/And one wrong step messed it all up/I'm all alone now/But I won't let it end this way.." I randomly chose the words that fit the tune, not caring that there was no rhyming to speak of.
At the end of the song Race stopped in his tracks (a/n: no pun intended) "Ya really cared dat much 'bout ya bruddah?"
"Yeah, I do. He's the only family I had left."
"Tell 'im dat. He'll believe ya if ya tell 'im dat an' he'll foahgive ya, I'se shore of it. He may be tough but he ain't heartless," Racetrack reassured. He put his arm around my shoulders and I smiled burying my head in his vest like a little girl. I breathed in his sent of cigars and newsprint and drew my strength from that.
Before we knew it we were already across the Brooklyn Bridge and facing the lodging house my older brother called home. With Race's arm wrapped around my waist I felt invincible. I marched through the wooden doorframe and into the bunkroom. I walked through the room, heading towards Spot's bunk in the very back corner. On my way, however, I came to an abrupt halt.
"Slider?" I asked, not sure I was seeing correctly. "Is that you?"
"Its me. And, oh, Spark, I'm sorry 'bout what happened, I've been tryin' ta talk some sense inta 'im but 'e won' listen. But I don' know what ta do, 'cause you'se me friend an' all but I love ya bruddah an' I ain't shore I'se ready ta leave 'im again." Slider looked genuinely torn between the duties of a girlfriend and a friend.
"Its all right." Trying to change the subject from what she considered a betrayal, I asked, "When did you two get back together?"
"Well, ya see, I was walkin' home from a meetin' one day an' Spot offahed ta walk me home, so I let 'im. Hafway back ta 'Hattan, he dropped on one knee an' asked me ta be 'is goil an' gave me dis necklace. I knew den dat I was still in love wit' 'im an' accepted happily." She was positively glowing as she told the story and I knew I couldn't blame her. I was happy for her, and I was happy for my brother as well. Despite all he had put me through these past few days, I still cared about him and was thankful that the girl he loved loved him back like Racetrack and I.
Hearing her talk of necklaces made me remember the crystal Racetrack had given me way back when. I raised my hand to my neck and felt for the worn leather strap. I felt it and slowly pulled the jewel out on top of my clothing.
"Ya still have dat?" Racetrack asked surprised.
"Did you think I'd thrown it away?" I asked back.
"Most goils wouldn' keep somethin' from da guy dat left 'em for someone else dat ain't even as pretty as dem," he said grinning. "Ya really did care, didn' ya?"
"Racetrack," I said, ready to finally say the combination of the words that meant the world to every romantic. Sure, I'd said it out of context, but never just the three small words. "I love you."
"I love you too."
And with that we were off to face my brother.
A/N: I'm hoping this update means I'm back on the constant update track, but you know what would fuel me along? Reviews! There's a little box with a button that's really easy to click and type. Bet you didn't know that did you?
Shoutouts (These are for the people that actually review!!):
Sprite: Tart is our man-stealing enemy. I think we have to go soak her now. And make her listen to your doll thing (Summer, wasn't it?) LOL. Sorry the SOs weren't up before, my computer is evil. Update soon and enjoy your flying desk set!
Drama-Queen: Yep, she finally got something good going for her. I guess we'll find out what happens with Spot soon.
Soaker: I know this killed the cliffhanger so I'm not going to comment on that. But yeah, nice philosophical touch to your review. Its true though. LOL.
Reffy: Glad you keep checking back!! It makes me feel special. * smiles *
Jaede Loriele Conlon: * new reviewer jig * Yeah, I need to be arrested, and maybe not only for torturing fictional characters.. but that's a different story. Yeah, I agree about the pre-marital sex (I definitely don't support it!) but it was just the right sort of internal conflict for my story (Whoa, I paid more attention than I thought in my English class, didn't I?). Hope you keep reading! And yes, flying desk sets are cool.
The next morning, I woke in the same position I had been sleeping in before, and carefully slid from the grasp of the still sleeping Racetrack. Lightly I kissed his forehead before walking around. I scanned the room and noticed a huddle of guys speaking in hushed voices, worry still evident in their faces. "Is there a problem?" I asked, concerned.
"No, no," Jack said. I could tell he was lying though.
"Don't bother lying, Jack, I'll find out sooner or later. Just tell me what the problem is." After the previous night I had abandoned all usage of my feigned New York accent and was back to being the Alexandra Conlon the boys had first met.
"Ya haven' changed a bit," he reported happily, having not seen me before the previous night in nearly a month. He'd been far too busy running a borough during a war to visit. He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into a huddle. "Lemme break it down for ya," he started. As he spoke it became evident that Chant and his army had become more than anyone had ever expected them to become. Along with the help of some of the other boroughs he had raised a well-trained army that planned to defeat us. The boys had been discussing strategies to no avail, and now all heads turned towards me.
"I don't know much about gang wars and strategies, but if I know anything its that a group cannot operate without a successful leader. A book can't commence without it's protagonist and a play can't be performed without a director just like a gang can't fight without their leader." I thought this an intelligible answer, as well as one that might actually work.
The boys stared at me for a moment before one dared to speak. It was the blonde one they called Dutchy. "What's a protagnist?"
"Protagonist. It's a main character in a book," Specs answered for me. He was one of the few learned newsies as he had gone to school for nearly eight years before running away and joining leagues with his current crowd.
The rest of the newsies slowly began to move again, further proving my suspicion that none of them besides Specs knew the meaning of the word. Jack started talking again. "I t'ink ya got somethin' dere, Spark. I'd put ya on da council for da meetin's wit' Spot, but, well, ya know.."
"Yeah, I know. If you want though, I'll keep advising you, but just don't tell Spot I did. That way you get advice and Spot doesn't have to know that the ideas are coming from his exiled sister. I don't think he'll like me any more after I go confront him today."
I had been hoping that the last part would slip by unnoticed, but no such luck. Jack looked at me amazedly. "You'se gonna go talk ta Spot? What ya gonna tell 'im? Ya realize dat you'se ain't allowed back dere?"
"You truly think that Spot would hurt his own sister? Honestly, is he that heartless?" Jack wasn't even able to answer the question, he simply nodded. "Then lets hope he isn't heartless enough to kill an unborn baby," were my last words before I deserted the group.
"Spark? Where are ya goin'?" Racetrack said sleepily as I grabbed my hat from the bunk he was still lying on.
"I'm going to talk to Spot, and prove to him that he doesn't have anything over me." Softer, I muttered, "And to prove it to myself."
Racetrack instantly stood up and grabbed his vest, buttoning it quickly. "What're ya gonna do ta him? Soak 'im?" he asked incredulously.
"If need be," was all I said before I turned to walk out the door.
I heard footsteps following quickly behind me as Racetrack said, "Wait, I'se comin' wit' ya."
I slowly walked down the lane, not talking to Racetrack even though he was supposed to be their for support. Feeling isolated I nearly turned around at least ten times, but as I looked down at my slightly rounded belly (I was only two months in, but I had been very slender before from lack of nourishment so the baby began to show immediately.) I felt the strength I needed to carry on. I hummed a little tune slowly and began to sing, as off pitch as I assume I was. "You tell me to go away/You don't want me hear anymore/But I know inside you're like me/You can't survive without me/I've waited my whole life for us/And one wrong step messed it all up/I'm all alone now/But I won't let it end this way.." I randomly chose the words that fit the tune, not caring that there was no rhyming to speak of.
At the end of the song Race stopped in his tracks (a/n: no pun intended) "Ya really cared dat much 'bout ya bruddah?"
"Yeah, I do. He's the only family I had left."
"Tell 'im dat. He'll believe ya if ya tell 'im dat an' he'll foahgive ya, I'se shore of it. He may be tough but he ain't heartless," Racetrack reassured. He put his arm around my shoulders and I smiled burying my head in his vest like a little girl. I breathed in his sent of cigars and newsprint and drew my strength from that.
Before we knew it we were already across the Brooklyn Bridge and facing the lodging house my older brother called home. With Race's arm wrapped around my waist I felt invincible. I marched through the wooden doorframe and into the bunkroom. I walked through the room, heading towards Spot's bunk in the very back corner. On my way, however, I came to an abrupt halt.
"Slider?" I asked, not sure I was seeing correctly. "Is that you?"
"Its me. And, oh, Spark, I'm sorry 'bout what happened, I've been tryin' ta talk some sense inta 'im but 'e won' listen. But I don' know what ta do, 'cause you'se me friend an' all but I love ya bruddah an' I ain't shore I'se ready ta leave 'im again." Slider looked genuinely torn between the duties of a girlfriend and a friend.
"Its all right." Trying to change the subject from what she considered a betrayal, I asked, "When did you two get back together?"
"Well, ya see, I was walkin' home from a meetin' one day an' Spot offahed ta walk me home, so I let 'im. Hafway back ta 'Hattan, he dropped on one knee an' asked me ta be 'is goil an' gave me dis necklace. I knew den dat I was still in love wit' 'im an' accepted happily." She was positively glowing as she told the story and I knew I couldn't blame her. I was happy for her, and I was happy for my brother as well. Despite all he had put me through these past few days, I still cared about him and was thankful that the girl he loved loved him back like Racetrack and I.
Hearing her talk of necklaces made me remember the crystal Racetrack had given me way back when. I raised my hand to my neck and felt for the worn leather strap. I felt it and slowly pulled the jewel out on top of my clothing.
"Ya still have dat?" Racetrack asked surprised.
"Did you think I'd thrown it away?" I asked back.
"Most goils wouldn' keep somethin' from da guy dat left 'em for someone else dat ain't even as pretty as dem," he said grinning. "Ya really did care, didn' ya?"
"Racetrack," I said, ready to finally say the combination of the words that meant the world to every romantic. Sure, I'd said it out of context, but never just the three small words. "I love you."
"I love you too."
And with that we were off to face my brother.
A/N: I'm hoping this update means I'm back on the constant update track, but you know what would fuel me along? Reviews! There's a little box with a button that's really easy to click and type. Bet you didn't know that did you?
Shoutouts (These are for the people that actually review!!):
Sprite: Tart is our man-stealing enemy. I think we have to go soak her now. And make her listen to your doll thing (Summer, wasn't it?) LOL. Sorry the SOs weren't up before, my computer is evil. Update soon and enjoy your flying desk set!
Drama-Queen: Yep, she finally got something good going for her. I guess we'll find out what happens with Spot soon.
Soaker: I know this killed the cliffhanger so I'm not going to comment on that. But yeah, nice philosophical touch to your review. Its true though. LOL.
Reffy: Glad you keep checking back!! It makes me feel special. * smiles *
Jaede Loriele Conlon: * new reviewer jig * Yeah, I need to be arrested, and maybe not only for torturing fictional characters.. but that's a different story. Yeah, I agree about the pre-marital sex (I definitely don't support it!) but it was just the right sort of internal conflict for my story (Whoa, I paid more attention than I thought in my English class, didn't I?). Hope you keep reading! And yes, flying desk sets are cool.